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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 141, 28 February 1874, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There are many little matters connected with the Road Board which are not generally known. I refer more distinctly to the tenders that were called for, for the erection of a bridge over the Waikanae stream, and replied to by several contractors without any result. Why were they burked ? Why should not Public Works of this kind be quite free from any extraneous influence, and decided on, on their own merits ? The existing mismanagement calls for an immediate and searching investigation. I sincerely trust the ratepayers will demand some explanation of this and other matters connected with this immaculate Board. I ask, are the public quietly to submit to the caprices of an effete officer who has to (or does) consult others before giving an opinion upon the most trivial job; and who declares to the world the Board’s business, which I consider should be held inviolate, by at least the Board’s officers ? The tenders for the Waikanae bridge were advertized to be sent in Monday last. I believe they were so semin. And what is the next tiling we hear? Why, that the same advertisement re-appears in your paper altering the date to the 2nd March I There is no notice given of either an extension of time for the original tenders to be sent in, nor that the tenders sent in are too high, and fresh ones required; but the Engineer gives out that the tenders are too high (although they have not been seen by the Board) he takes upon himself to alter the plan and specification, and extends the time for fresh tenders, so as to give some one an advantage. This tender business is begetting a grave suspicion that something is rotten somewhere ; and we shall be glad if you will inform us, Mr. Editor, how we can obtain further information upon these matters. —Yours, &c., Contractor. 7 [We regret we cannot help our correspondent in the direction he suggests. The proprietor of this journal is in the same difficulty himself with respect to trickery in the matter of public tenders. We should advise a direct communication with the Board, in the first place; and, failing that, an appeal to the ratepayers at the annual election. We do not believe that the Engineer has extended the time for receiving these tenders from any corrupt motive, but, from a public point of view, the judgment which dictated such a course is certainly open to disapproval. We wonder if our correspondent (or contractors generally,) think with the Editor of the Herald that the question of tendering with a public body is “private,” and “really of no more concern to the public than the private affairs of any other tradesmen.” “ Contractor ” and others have the settlement of such questions practically in their own hands, and if they put up with them it is their own fault. We will lead on to a better state of things, if they will but follow.—Ed. S.]